Matt Shelvock

By the age of 15 Matt was offered a job as an Ibanez endorser/clinic player.  Since the age of 17 he has recorded and played with multiple Juno winner Skip Prokop (Lighthouse, Santana, Janis Joplin).  In his twenties, Matt is currently enrolled in the Popular Music Studies program at UWO and is recording an album featuring Chris Rodriguez (Keith Urban, Shania Twain and Kenny Loggins.)  He has been playing and gigging for 10 years and has been actively teaching enthusiastic students for 4 years.

http://myspace.com/studiomatt

James Hummel

With influences such as Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon, and Joe Strummer, James is an active solo performer and songwriter in the London area.  He is currently recording in Montreal and has maintained a very active teaching studio for the past six years. James has a unique sound and can be heard frequently preforming at local venues.

http://jameshummel.com

Dan Mills

Dan has been an active guitarist in everything from jazz to military bands for the last 11 years.  He has taught guitar in the music program at Kincardine District Secondary School as well as been keenly involved in the Kincardine Summer Music Festival for the past 10 years.  Dan is currently enrolled in the Music Industry Arts Program at Fanshawe College and has maintained a vibrant studio for the past four years.

Erik Nielsen

Erik has a keen interest in recording/engineering and has brought his over 10 years of performance experience forward to enhance his teaching for the past 8 years.  Erik’s main goal is to ensure that he keeps his lessons fun while he instructs and engages a roster of committed students from all age groups.

Brian Nelles

Brian has an Honours Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfred Laurier University.  He has studied with George Greer (principle bassist of the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony), Dr. Glen Buhr, and Dr. Kevin Swindon.  Brian has performed and recorded with many acts in Toronto, Waterloo and London, as well as, performed in various opera and theater pits in the area.  He has professionally maintained a thriving studio of guitar, electric and double bass students for the past four years.

Christopher Martin

Chris has studied a variety of music courses at the University of Western Ontario while pursuing a diploma in Multimedia Design and Production and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media, Information and Technoculture. He has earned several gold medals in guitar ensembles and performed in the Althouse College productions of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and Hair. Chris has been teaching for 5 years and is part of serveral local bands who perform at a number of clubs and events.

Darren Weeks

Darren is a graduate of the Music Industry Arts Program at Fanshawe College.  His extensive training in Blues and Jazz guitar, as well as, his piano/theory training through the Royal Conservatory of Music give a diverse dimension to his teaching methods.  Darren has had an eclectic studio for the past six years.  He is the lead vocalist, pianist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter for “The Blind Dogs”.

Peter Murphy

Peter Murphy is a fourth generation musician who grew up constantly surrounded by music.  He studied jazz, blues and rock with instructors at Humber College during high school where he became a proficient improvisational player. During his time in London, Peter studied classical guitar with Rick Piché.

Peter is currently entering his fourth year at Western in the Popular Music Studies program. He plans to pursue a career in Recording Engineering after he graduates. Peter has been teaching dedicated students for 5 years.

Wayne Hill

Wayne has been teaching for over 10 years and has studied jazz percussion under author Mark Hamon and Gary McCumber.  He has performed in everything from a Metallica tribute band to “Bar Top Shockers” swing band.  He has performed with KODE progressive metal band and various rock and jazz bands, as well as, several musicals in the London area.

Derek Babinan

Derek has been teaching drums for 18 years, he has studied with the likes of Peter Erskine and Kenny Aronoff drawing huge influences from them and their playing styles. He has toured in the mid 90's with several acts and currently is playing with country star Tracy Kennedy, he also is fronting his own band, The Dicky Swift Band.

Justin Wiley

Justin Wiley is currently pursuing his Bachelor Of Music at the University of Western Ontario. He is currently in his third year specializing in Music Education. Justin is currently studying percussion with Dr. Jill Ball (professor at UWO) and has studied with D'Arcy Gray (principal percussionist for Orchestra London), Greg Mainprize, Karl Sloman, and Renato Belusic. Justin has experience playing drums in a variety of ensembles from jazz combos to orchestras to ska and rock bands. Currently, Justin plays in large ensembles at UWO, as well as Jazz Combos, the UWO Percussion Ensemble, and plays drums in the London group The Constructionists. Justin plays a variety of instruments in his spare time some of which include: piano, guitar, trumpet, clarinet and others.

Chris Spiers

Chris has spent the last 17 years as a professional drummer touring extensivley throughout both the U.S. and Canada and has also spent countless hours in recording studios across southern Ontario. Chris has studied many styles including jazz, marching band percussion and rock. He is currently in the studio recording his band's follow-up effort to their self titled debut E.P. - Brother My Enemy.

www.brothermyenemy.com

Diane MacLeod

Diane holds a BA Honours in Music Performance and an ARCT in (Performance).  She attended the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and studied with Boris Berlin.  Diane has been extensively trained in both classical and Jazz/Blues.  She has been a session musician and teacher for many years and maintains an active studio at the Academy.

Andrea Pietrzak

Andrea is a product of the Royal Conservatory of Music and holds first class honours in piano performance and theory. Although trained in classical and western music theory, she has eclectic musical tastes. Andrea has an active studio at the Academy and enjoys teaching students of all ages.

Zachary Havens

Zachary Havens, UE, ARCT is a recent graduate of Music Industry Arts at Fanshawe College and began playing piano at age 4. He achieved the highest mark in Ontario for his Grade 8 and Grade 10 RCM piano exams as well as Grade 5 vocal exam. He completed his performer’s ARCT diploma in August, 2005 with a mark of 92. Zach studied organ/choir directing for 3 years and has accompanied ballet classes for teachers from all over the world.  Zach has also been the musical director for numerous musicals. His musical passion is song-writing and his music hasachieved international radio play and performance under the artist name “To Tell.”

http://www.myspace.com/totell

Sarah Pilat

Sarah is a registered music teacher with ARCT diplomas in piano performance and teaching from the Royal Conservatory of Music.  She has been teaching piano and theory at her studio in Sarnia for eleven years and is also an active accompanist.  Sarah completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Education at the University of Western Ontario.

Danielle Girard

Danielle is currently completing a Bachelor of Music Performance in violin at the University of Western Ontario.  She is first violinist in UWO's Symphony Orchestra and the Stratford Civic Orchestra.  Danielle also performs with UWO Opera Orchestra, UWO Chamber Orchestra and the Early Music Ensemble as well as various chamber groups.  She has done additional studies at Oxford Arts Centre and Domaine Forget Academie de Musique in Quebec.  Danielle maintains an active studio in the London area.

Eva Paleczny

Eva has grown up in a very musical family. She begun playing the piano at the age of four. Later picking up several other instruments, including the violin, which she is now persuing as her principal instrument at the University of Western Ontario. She currently plays in the UWO Symphony Orchestra, all will act as concert master in Lab orchestra in the spring. In the past she has played with the Kawartha Youth Orchestra, and the Cairo Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, and has attended summer music programs in Poland and Colorado.

Marty Rocca

Marty is currently in his third year of an Honours Bachelor of Music Education with a Minor in French at the University of Western Ontario. Marty has been exposed to music from a young age, pursuing violin at age eight. Growing up in Sudbury, Ontario, he was part of the Sudbury Youth Orchestra for several years, and obtained the position of Concert Master for the 2005-2007 seasons. During his participation with SYO, he went on musical tours with the group to Austria, Czech Republic, Scotland, Italy and Greece. Marty has frequently played with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra and the North Bay Symphony Orchestra. In London, Marty is part of the UWO Symphony Orchestra, and enjoys playing chamber music.

Rachel Wood

A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, mezzo-soprano RachelWood has recently completed her Masters of Music in Literature and Performance at UWO, studying with Dr. Sophie Roland-Wieczorek. She maintains her new position as a studio voice instructor at the University of Western Ontario's Don Wright Faculty of Music. Rachel participated in the inaugural session of the Canadian Operatic Arts Academy at the University of Western Ontario, as well as travelling to Malibu, California where she completed the SongFest 2009 Professional Program and was the recipient of a Marc and Eva Stern Fellowship. Here, she performed in public master classes with Martin Katz. Rachel was recently selected as one of five singers to take part in the 2009 Mountain View International Festival of Song and Chamber Music in Calgary, Alberta this August, where studied under internationally renowned collaborative pianist Rudolf Jansen.

Lindsey Hull

Lindsey Hull completed her undergraduate degree in music for vocal performance at Queen's University.  She then attended the University of Western Ontario where she completed her Master's Degree in Literature and Performance for voice.  Lindsey also spent time studying voice in Italy while competing her Master's program.  She has been involved in many musicals, operas, choirs and jazz ensembles and enjoys teaching from these genres as well as pop music.

Bill Skidmore

Bill founded the London Jazz Orchestra in 1988.  He has been active with the Fanshawe Community Orchestra, the Encore Concert Band, and the Plumbing Factory Brass Band and is the co-founder of the Fredericton Chamber Orchestra.  Bill has been teaching for over 15 years and is currently involved in numerous jazz ensembles in the London area.